Barrier



Nov. 20, 1928. 1,692,142

J. B. sTRAuss BARRIER Filed Nov.28, 1921 3 12S-Sheet 1 $6@ @zAs @y ws.

Nov. 20, 1928. 1,692,142 J. B. STRAUSS BARRIER Filed Nov. 28, 1921 5Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 20, 1928.

J. B. STRAUSS BARRIER F'led Nov. 28, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 um 1. l 1 l ln l 1| o 9 0 ..wdnuuhlhnn um I2 m 1 7 1 Z a@ e x HIIH/IGNII/w'll Z g 2:6A ...J J .MJ a* w1 4I 2 Z a o um J a, 2

Patented Nov. 20, 1928. I

UNITEDl STATES y 1,692,142 PATENT. OFFICE- JOSEPH B. STRAUSS, OFCHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO HIGHWAY SAFETY BARBIER I COPAN Y, OFCHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS. l

BARRIER.

This invention relates to a barrier, and has for its object to provide anew and improved device of this description, particularly adapted to beextended across a roadway to stop automobiles'or other vehicles. Theinvention has among other objects to provide a device of thisdescription wherein the part which extends across-the roadway may belifted and lowered, and means for relieving l0 the strain on the liftingand lowering mechanism when the said part is struck by a vehicle. Theinvention has other. objects which are more specifically pointed out inthe following description.

- Referring now to the drawings Fig. 1 is a front view showing one formof device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front view of one of the posts at one side of theroadway showing the mechanism therein;

Fig. 8 is a side view of the post shown in Fig. 2 showing the mechanismtherein;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view showing the mechanism for relieving thestrains from the lifting mechanism for the portion of the barrierextending across the roadway when such portion has-been struck by avehicle;

Fig. 7 ris a view similar to Fig. 6v when the parts are in their normalinoperative posi.

tion;

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several figures. J

Referring to the accompanying drawings I have shown two fixedsupports 1on opposite sides of the roadway. v -These fixed supportsl may be of anysuitable construction, and carry and support the controlling mechanismof the barrier. An impact receiving part 2 extends across between thesupports 1. This is preferably made of iexible pieces connectedtogether, and is normally in an inoperative position above the roadwayas shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and is moved down across the roadwayto the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1 when it is desired to stopthe vehicle.

Means are provided for permitting the'impact receiving device to moveforward with the vehicle when struck. In the construction shown thisresult is secured by connecting with the ends of the impact receivingdevice,

2, the exible power transmitting devices 3. In the construction shownthere are three of these power transmittingdevices, one connected nearthe top, and one near the bottom, andbne near the middle of the impactreceiving part 2. These flexible power transmitting devices 3 passthroughopenings in a rigid part or spacer 4, which keeps them properlyspaced or positioned. The parts 3 pass up over a direction changingdevice 5, and then over a pulley or direction changing device 6connected with a movable weight 7, and the ends thereof are connectedthrough .springs 8 with fixed parts 9, so that when the impact receivingdevice is moved forward by the vehicle, the weight 7 will .be lifted.This weight when lifted passes between the friction engagin devices 10,which gradually stop it and t us gradually stop the vehicle after theweight has reduced its speed. The part or spacer 4 is arranged so thatit may be lifted or lowered so as to move the impact receiving deviceinto an'operative or inopera? tive position. In the construction shownthis movement is secured by means of the power transmitting device 14,which passes around the direction changing device 15 at the bottom, andthe direction changing device 16 at the top of the support l, and isconnected with the spacer 4 so as to form as it were an endless flexiblepower transmitting device. The

device may be operated by hand or by means of an electric motor 17,which is connected by a belt 18 with a pulley on a shaft 19. This shafthas a worm which engages a worm gear 20 on a shaft 21, carrying thepulley 15, so as to drive this pulley.

The direction changing devices 15 and 16 as shown are toothed wheels,around which the vpower transmitting device 14 passes, which in thisinstance is a chain, so that when the toothed wheel 15 is driven in onedirection, the power transmitting device 14 will be moved to move theimpact receiving part 2 up to its inoperative position, and when rotatedin the opposite direction, moves the impact receiving part 2 down to itsoperative position. When the vehicle strikes the impact receiving part 2there Vwill ordinarily be a great strain put upon-the power transmittingdevice 14, and hence, unless made very strong, injury may result.

In the present construction I provide means for automatically'removingthe strain from the part 15 when the vehicle strikes the part suitablemanner.'

lThere is a spring 2 2. rllhis is accomplished by transferring thestrain to the support 1. In Figs. 6 and 7 Ihave shown in detail aparticular construction for this purpose. In this construction there isconnected in the endless chain, a device vwhich automatically engagesthe support 1. In the 'construction shown in Figs. 6 and 7 this de.-vice comprises a part 22 connected in the end,- less chain, and which asherein shown is pivotally collected at 23 with the spacer 4.

Pivotally connected to the part 22 at 22a are the links 24, which arepivotally connected to the links 25. The links 25 are connected to theother part of the endless chain in any As herein shown there is a rod15a connected with the part 14, and this rod passes up through a hole inthe bottom of the part 22, and is connected by the pin 26 with the up erends of the links 25. gwhich is also connected with the upper ends ofthese links so as to normally hold them in their expanded position, asshown in Fig. 7. The part 22 is providedwith the slot 22b along whichthe p1vot 26 moves when the spring 27 is compressed or expanded. Thelinks 25 are provided with engaging parts 28 which engage the engag-ling parts 29 on the supports 1. These supports are provided with stops30, which limit the downward movement of the spacers 4 when the impactreceiving part is down across the roadway. When the parts are in thisposition the device for relieving the strain on the endless chain 14 andfor directly connecting the impact receiving device with the supports,is in a position where the engaging parts 28 are below the engagingparts 29 on the sup orts. The spacers 4 are arranged to easily s ide upand down along the supports, and are connected with the supports so asto take the lateral strains. This result is secured in any desiredmanner. As herein shown the spacers are provided with grooves into whichproject guides 31 connected with the supports, the construction beingmade strong enough to stand these lateral strains. 'llhe mechanism ofthe two supports are simi- When the impact receiving device is struck bya vehicle, the impact receiving part 2 moves forward with the vehicle,and the power transmitting devices 3 ay out through the holes in thespacers. his pulls the weight 7 upwardly, which weight resists theforward movement of the vehicle. The weights pass between the frictiondevicesA 10 which exert a friction on the weight, which increases as theweight moves upwardly, and this further retards the movement of thevehicle, andthe vehicle is therefore gradually stopped. The increase ofthe friction is brought about by the fact that the parts 10 are nearertogether at their upper ends than at their lower ends, and by thefurther fact that there are springs 10a which resist the outwardmovement of the parts 10 with an increasing resistance. These springsmake the device more elastic and pliable. They also permit adjustment asthere are nuts 10b which may be adjusted to adjust the tension of thesprings. The springs as shown are located on a rod 10C, which passesthrough the parts l0, which has threaded ends for the nuts 10b. Theparts 10 may be of spring metal, but when the springs 10a are used, thisis not necessary. When thevehicle strikes the im'- pact receiving partthere is an up-lift which tends to move the spacers upwardly. Since,however, the worm .and worm gear driving connection prevent the movementof the chain 14, this upward movement causes the links 24 and 25 and thepivots 22a and 26 to be moved relatively, towards each other, and thiscauses the engaging parts 28 to be thrust outwardly and to be broughtinto engagement with the engaging parts 29 on the supports, as shown inFig. 6. The stress is therefore removed from the chains or powertransmitting devices 14, and transferred to the supports, and' hence thedanger of breakage of the power transmitting devices 14 is eliminated.

When the pressure on the impact receiving device is Kreleased, thespacers move back "to their origmal position, and the engaging parts 28are released from the engaging parts 29, and the spacers and impactreceiving device may bemoved up out of the way by the motor 17. It willthus be seen that I have here means for automatically releasing thestrain on the control mechanism for the impact receiving device, and fortransferring this strain directly to the supports, thereby preventinginjury of this controlling mechanism.

I have described in detail a particular construction embodyingtheinvention, but4 it is of course evident that the parts may be variedin many particulars, without departing from the spirit of the inventionas set forth in the claims hereto attached, and I therefore do not limitmyself to the particular construction shown. l

I claim:

1. A barrier for vehicles comprising separated supports, an impactreceiving device comprising a plurality of flexible parts extendingacross the space between said supports, spacers adapted to slide alongsaid supports and with which said impact receiving device is movablyconnected, power transmitting devices connected with said spacers andextending along the supports, means for applying power to the powertransmitting devices to raise and lower said spacers andsaid impactreceivingdevice, automatically actu' ated devices connected with saidpower transmitting devices for connecting the power transmitting devicesand said spacers with said supports when the impact receiving device isstruck so as to relieve the strain on said power transmitting devices.

Ulli

2. A barrier for vehicles comprising separated supports, a flexibleimpact receiving device extending across the space between saidsupports, a movable device mounted on each support with which saidimpact receving device is movably connected, flexible power transmittingdevices connected with each movable device for raising and lowering it,and automatic holding devices interposed between the movablel devicesand the flexible power transmitting devices forv automaticallyconnecting the movable devices with the supports when the barrier isstruck, so as to relieve the` strain from said power transmittingdevices.

3. A barrier for vehicles comprising separated supports, a flexibleimpact receiving device extending across the space between saidsupports, a movable device mounted on each support with which saidimpact receiving device is movably connected, flexible powertransmitting defices connected with each movable ing and lowering it andholding devices interposed between the movable devices and the liexiblepower transmittingdevices and forming continuations of' the flexiblepower transmitting devices comprising movable engaging parts actuated bythe pull on the flexible power transmitting devices, and fixed engagingparts with which they are brought device for raisinto engagement torelieve the strain on the power transmitting device when the powertransmitting device is struck bya vehicle.

4. A barrier for vehicles comprising separated supports, a flexibleimpact receiving device extending across the space between saidsupports, a movable device mounted on each support with which saidimpact receiving device is movably connected, flexible powertransmitting devices connected with each movable device for raising andlowering it, and holding devices interposed between the movable devicesand the flexible power transmitting devices comprising a part connectedwith the movable device, links pivoted to said part, a second set oflinks pivotally connected to the end of the power transmitting device sothat when pressure is applied thereto. the pivoted ends of the linkswill be moved towards each other, engaging parts on one set fof links,fixed engaging parts on said supports engaged by the engaging parts onthe links when the pivoted ends of the links are moved towards eachother, so as to connect the power transmitting device with the support.

Signed at Chicago county of Cook and State oflllinois, this 14th day ofNovember, 1921.

JOSEPH B. STRAUSS.

